Wire clip means for cleated collapsible containers

ABSTRACT

Clip means for use in interconnecting a wall to a base of a collapsible container by engaging a cleat on said base. The entire clip is formed of tempered steel wire and possesses a high degree of resiliency. It is engaged with said wall by extending a part thereof to penetrate an opening in the wall adjacent a lower edge of the wall. Provision is made for using a single size clip with any of a range of widths of wall. In a second embodiment, prior art construction is modified to produce a somewhat similar result.

llnited States Patent [191 Kupersmit [4 Aug. 20, 1974 [5 WIRE CLIP MEANS FOR CLEATED 2,256,761 9/1941 COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS 27459-953 V1949 2,944,643 7/l960 David at a] 52/758 C Inventor: Julius Kupersmlt, 145-80 229th 3,580,618 5/1971 Kupersmit 52/754 St., New York, N.Y. 11413 22 i N0 27 1972 Primary Examiner-Werner H. Schroeder Att0rney,Agent, 0r FirmCharles E. Temko [211 App]. No.: 309,768

Related U.S. Application Data B C [63] c i i i f Sen No 159 2 3 J ly Clip means for use in interconnecting a wall to a base l97l, abandoned. of a collapsible container by engaging a cleat on said base. The entire clip is formed of tempered steel wire [52] U.S. Cl 52/754, 52/758 C, 403/9 and possesses a high degree of resiliency. It is engaged '[51] Int. Cl. Fl6b 7/00 with said wall by extending a part thereof to penetrate [58] Field of Search 52/754, 760, 753 C, 753 D, an opening in the wall adjacent a lower edge of the 52/753 W; 403/9; 217/13, 43 R, 45 wall. Provision is made for using a single size clip with i .any of a range of widths of wall. In a second embodi- [56] References Cited ment, prior art construction is modified to produce 21 UNITED STATES PATENTS somewhat similar result. 888,898 '5/1908 Hyde 52/754 3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures WIRE CLIP MEANS FOR CLEATED COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Ser. No. 159,213, filed July 2, 1971, now abaned.

This invention relates generally to collapsible container construction, of the type disclosed in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,580,618, and the invention lies in specific constructional improvements over the structure disclosed and claimed therein.

While the structure disclosed in the above mentioned patent has been a substantial contribution to the art, certain disadvantages are inherent in the use of the same. The clip structure, being made of tempered steel stampings, is suitable only for use with a single predetermined thickness of side wall, so that for any given size of clip, only a fiber board or plywood sheet of thickness corresponding to the recess formed in the clip therefor may be used. Since wall thicknesses vary from a minimum of three-eighths of an inch in the case of corrugated board to a maximum of as much as seven-eighths of an inch in the case of heavy plywood, the use of clips of differing sizes is accordingly necessitated. Another disadvantage has been the difficulty of using the prior .art clip in conjunctionwith plywood side walls, where the locking teeth on the clip require considerable laterally appplied pressure to obtain a proper purchase on the relatively dense wood which resists penetration to a far greater degree than soft pine boards and the like. A third disadvantage has been encountered in the relatively high cost of manufacture of the clips, which are normally expendable along with the side walls of the collapsible carton after a relatively few number of loadings.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved wire clip means of the class described, in which the above mentioned disadvantages have been substantially eliminated.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved clip means of the class described which may be fabricated entirely of tempered steel wire which has been bent to required shape, thereby eliminating separate stamping and severing operations necessary with prior art structure.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved construction of the class described which will result in a more positive interconnection between the clip and side wall than has been heretofore obtainable.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved clip means possessing the above advantages, in which the cost of fabrication has been reduced materially below that of existing prior art structure, thereby encouraging consequent Wide sale, distribution and'use. A feature of one of the disclosed embodiments illustrates the adaptability of prior art clip means to the use with side wall construction in accordance with the present invention.

These objects and feature, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a clip structure in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the clip structure shown in FIG. 1 in installed condition to interconnect a side wall and pallet forming parts of a collapsible container.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view as seen from the right hand portion of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view corresponding to that seen in FIG. 1, but showing an alternate form of construction in engaged condition with a side wall of a collapsible container.

FIG. 6 is a similar side elevational view showing the clip in engaged condition with a side wall of greater thickness than that seen in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of the invention, and corresponding to that seen in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the clip in accordance with the second embodiment.

In accordance with the first embodiment of the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10 comprises broadly: an upper hookforming means 11, a lower hook-forming means 13 and recess-forming means 12. The device is formed by bending a continuous length of wire to desired configuration, and interconnecting by welding the free ends of the wire together to form a continuous member.

The upper hook-forming means 11 includes a pair of longitudinally extending segments 15, each having an upper bend portion 16 of substantially interconnecting with upper outwardly extending lateral segments 17. The segments 17 in turn lead to bend portions 18, inwardly extending segments 19, horizontal bend portions 20, again of 90, and a transversely extending interconnecting segment 2.

The recess-forming means 12 includes first lower bend portions 25, outwardly extending short segments 26, second lower bend portions 27 and longitudinal segments 28. The lower hook-forming means 13 include inner medial bend portions 29, laterally extending segments 30, outer medial bend portions 31, downwardly extending segments 32, outer lower bend portions 33, inwardly directed segments 34 and a transversely extending segment 35.

Referring to FIG. 3 in the drawings, the device 10 is illlustrated in installed condition interconnecting a base or pallet 39 with a side wall 40, in a manner similar to that disclosed in my above mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,580,618. The base 39 includes an upper surface 41 mounting a plurality of cleats one of which is indicated by reference character 42. The cleat having an outer vertical surface 43, an upper surface 444, a camming surface 45 and an inner vertical surface 46. A lower notch 47 extends into the body of the cleat from the surface 46. The second hook-forming means 1 of the device 10 corrresponds in configuration to that of the cleat, and engagement of the same is in the manner described in my above mentioned patent.

The wall part of the container 40 may be of a variety of planar materials, and is bounded by an inner surface 48 and an outer surface 49 interconnected at a lower edge 50. A short distance upwardly from the lower edge 50, and parallel thereto, are a plurality of horizontal slots 51 engageable by the upper hook-forming means 11 which is slightly compressed on passing therethrough, and which expands to its unstressed configuration when the transverse member 20 has passed to prevent movement in a reverse direction. It will be observed that this form of engagement is positive, and does not rely upon the presence of locking teeth to dig into the surface of the wall. Engagement is facilitated by placing the upper hook-forming means 11 on the outer surface 49 of the wall and allowing the lower edge 50 to project into the interstice 53 formed between the means ll and 12 whereby it enters the recess-forming means 13.

In the alternate form shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, parts corresponding to those of the principal form had been designated by similar reference characters with the additional suffix a. This form is particularly adapted to be used with any one of a variety of widths of side wall, and accordingly, the bend portions 25a extend through an angle somewhat less than 90 for use with a relatively thin wall as shown in FIG. 6, and upon employment with a thicker wall, the bend portion is forcibly straightened toward a 90 angle. Correspondingly, the segments a are slightly curved to accommodate the difference between 90 and the actual angle of the bend portions a.

Under certain circumstances, as, for example, when greater mechanical clip strength is required, it may be desirable to employ clips of the type disclosed in my above mentioned prior patent in conjunction with wall construction having the horizontal slots 51. In the second embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, and generally indicated by reference character 61, the outer wall member 62 is engaged by a bend portion 63 formed in the planar wall engaging member 60. An inwardly projecting portion 65 communicating with the bend portion 63 includes single locking teeth which cooperate with the opening 51 in the side wall in the same manner as the upper hook-forming means 11 of the principal embodiment. The second embodiment, by virtue of the structure employed for engaging the side wall member is also adapted to accommodate any of a plurality of thicknesses of side wall without modification.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. In a means for assembling collapsible containers having first and second generally planar parts detachably interconnected at abutting edges thereof at substantially a mutual right angle, the means including a cleat attached to a surface of said first planar part in the area of an abutting edge, said cleat forming a recess having a principal axis and a planar surface substantially perpendicular to said last mentioned surface of said first planar part, and a resilient clip attached to said ssecond planar part, said clip including means extending laterally from a surface of said second planar part, and selectively engaging said recess in said cleat, in which condition an inner surface of said second planar part is juxtaposed to a planar surface of said cleat, the improvement comprising: said clip including an upper hook-forming means, a lower hook-forming means and a recess-forming means; said second planar part including a through opening therein said area adjacent an abutting edge, said upper hook-forming means penetrating said opening, in which condition said second planar part projects into said recess-forming means, and said second hook-forming means engages said cleat; said upper hook-forming means including a bend portion interconnecting with a longitudinally extending segment mounting said upper hook-forming means, said bend portion in relatively unstressed condition serving to reduce the effective width of the recessforming means to substantially less than a maximum value, whereby said longitudinally-extending segment may serve as a clamp to resiliently position said second planar part of a collapsible container in compressed relation within said recess-forming means; said longitudinally extending segment being resilient stressable to the full effective width of said recess-forming means for accommodation of a planar part of substantially equivalent thickness.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which said clip is formed from a unitary length of tempered steel wire.

3. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which said clip is formed as a flat metallic stamping. 

1. In a means for assembling collapsible containers having first and second generally planar parts detachably interconnected at abutting edges thereof at substantially a mutual right angle, the means including a cleat attached to a surface of said first planar part in the area of an abutting edge, said cleat forming a recess having a principal axis and a planar surface substantially perpendicular to said last mentioned surface of said first planar part, and a resilient clip attached to said ssecond planar part, said clip including means extending laterally from a surface of said second planar part, and selectively engaging said recess in said cleat, in which condition an inner surface of said second planar part is juxtaposed to a planar surface of said cleat, the improvement comprising: said clip including an upper hook-forming means, a lower hook-forming means and a recess-forming means; said second planar part including a through opening therein said area adjacent an abutting edge, said upper hook-forming means penetrating said opening, in which condition said second planar part projects into said recess-forming means, and said second hook-forming means engages said cleat; said upper hook-forming means including a bend portion interconnecting with a longitudinally extending segment mounting said upper hook-forming means, said bend portion in relatively unstressed condition serving to reduce the effective width of the recess-forming means to substantially less than a maximum value, whereby said longitudinally-extending segment may serve as a clamp to resiliently position said second planar part of a collapsible container in compressed relation within said recess-forming means; said longitudinally extending segment being resilient stressable to the full effective width of said recess-forming means for accommodation of a planar part of substantially equivalent thickness.
 2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which said clip is formed from a unitary length of tempered steel wire.
 3. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which said clip is formed as a flat metallic stamping. 